The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has begun interrogating economist and former chairman of Janata Bank, Dr. Abul Barkat, in connection with a Tk 297 crore loan scam involving AnonTex Group.On Sunday (July 27) at 1:45 PM, a team led by ACC Assistant Director Shahjahan Miraj brought Dr. Barkat from Dhaka Central Jail to the ACC headquarters in Segunbagicha for questioning. This marks the first day of his two-day remand.
Earlier, on July 23, the ACC filed a petition seeking a three-day remand for Dr. Barkat in a case concerning the misappropriation of Tk 297 crore from Janata Bank. Following the hearing, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka granted a two-day remand.
The ACC filed the case in February this year against 23 individuals, including Dr. Barkat and former Bangladesh Bank governor Dr. Atiur Rahman, accusing them of misappropriating over Tk 297 crore in loans under the name of AnonTex Group.
On July 10, the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested Dr. Barkat from his residence in Dhanmondi. He was then shown arrested in the ACC case and produced before the court. On July 11, his lawyer applied for bail, which was subsequently denied by the court.
According to the case statement, the accused, in collusion with one another, forged documents, committed fraud, and created false records to embezzle Tk 297 crore 38 lakh 87 thousand 296 from the corporate branch of Janata Bank’s PLC building. The ACC also alleges that the embezzled funds were laundered abroad with the assistance of bank officials.
The investigation and interrogation are currently ongoing, ACC officials confirmed.
